They
are often seen near cerianthids. They are shy and hide
at the slightest sign of danger. Be quiet and wait for
them to emerge.
They look like fanworms but belong to a different animal
group. Their
tubes are made of chitin, the same substance that insect
exoskeleton is made of.

Where
seen? Literally
overshadowed by their more glamorous hosts, this tiny fluffy worm
is commonly seen with cerianthids
on our northern shores. Often several can be seen near one cerianthid.
Very shy, the worms retract at the slightest sign of danger. There's
a better chance of seeing them at night.

What are phoronid worms? Phoronid
worms are unsegmented worms belonging to
Phylum Phoronida. This is a small phylum with less than 20 species.
Phoronis australis is thus far, the only phoronid known to
be encountered with cerianthids and it is found in all warm temperate
to tropical coasts from the intertidal to deeper waters.

Features:Phoronis australis
has a pair of feathery spiralling tentacles (diameter about 2cm).
The body is long, unsegemented and worm-like. Those seen on our shores
are grey or pinkish black, but elsewhere white ones are also seen.
Most phoronids build a tube that is made of chitin (the same substance
that insect skeletons are made of). More about tubeworms
in general.

According to Gosliner, the body of Phoronis australis penetrates
the tissues of the cerianthid but the phoronid worm is not parasitic
and does not absorb nutrients from the cerianthid directly.

What do they eat? Phoronids are
filter feeders, creating a current of water through their spiral of
tentatcles. Edible bits are trapped in mucus on the tentacles.

Phoronid babies: Some phoronids
can reproduce by budding or splitting into half. They also reproduce
by producing eggs and sperm. It is believed that the lifespan of phoronids
is only about one year. Phoronis australis is a hermaphrodite.

Phoroneus the hero: In Greek mythology,
Phoroneus is often said to be the son of a river god and ocean nymph.
He is credited for being the first to unite the Greeks as one people.
Previously, they had lived in scattered groups.

Changi, Jun 03Are
the white stuff eggs?Changi, Aug 05

Changi, Aug 05The anus is at the top of the body
in between the two 'fans'.